Chapter 334

A sudden crisis erupted at one of Sterling Corporation's international branches, demanding immediate attention.

Alexander Sterling was tied up with urgent matters at headquarters, making it impossible for him to leave the country.

Evelyn Sinclair stepped in without hesitation, volunteering to handle the situation in his stead.

The trip would also serve as a much-needed escape—a chance to breathe away from the suffocating tension back home.

News of Evelyn's departure reached Nathan Blackwood within the hour.

He was in his office, nursing a cup of hangover tea, when Harrison delivered the blow.

"What?" Nathan's grip on the cup faltered, scalding liquid spilling across confidential documents. He shot to his feet, a sharp twinge shooting through his side—an unwelcome reminder of last night's recklessness.

"She left the country?" His voice was dangerously calm.

Harrison swallowed hard. "Yes, sir. When I delivered the return gift to Sterling Manor, it was received by Mr. Lucas Sterling."

A pause. Then the damning words: "He mentioned Ms. Sinclair is traveling abroad... and may not return."

Nathan's face drained of color.

Not return?

His chest constricted violently, as if an invisible hand had seized his heart.

"Where?" The word tore from his throat. "Which flight? Which destination?"

Panic clawed at him—raw, irrational, consuming. The thought of her slipping away, vanishing beyond his reach, was unbearable.

Harrison hesitated. "She didn't take a commercial flight, sir. The Sterlings sent their private jet."

Nathan's jaw locked.

A private jet meant no passenger manifest. No easy trail to follow.

She was deliberately making it impossible for him to find her.

The realization struck like a physical blow. She wasn't just leaving—she was erasing herself from his life entirely.

"No." The word was a vow, ice-cold and unyielding. "Find her."

He met Harrison's gaze, and the assistant flinched at the storm brewing in those steel-gray eyes.

"You have one hour to track that jet's destination." Nathan's voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "Fail me, and you can disappear along with her."

Harrison's spine straightened. "Understood, sir."

He fled the office, already dialing his contacts. The clock was ticking—and Nathan Blackwood wasn't a man who accepted defeat.

With that final remark, Nathan Blackwood strode out the door. Four hours later.

At the Paris headquarters of Sterling Worldwide's French subsidiary, Nathan stood imposingly at the grand entrance. His towering frame commanded attention.

His chiseled features could have been carved from marble, each angle perfectly defined. The sharp line of his jaw, the aristocratic slope of his nose - everything about him screamed privilege and power.

An aura of quiet intensity surrounded him, drawing curious glances from every passerby. The receptionist approached him for the third time. "Monsieur, are you certain there's nothing I can assist you with?"

Nathan merely offered a polite but distant smile. "I'm waiting for someone." Beneath his composed exterior, his pulse raced erratically.

Even knowing Evelyn Sinclair was somewhere in this building, he couldn't bring himself to barge into her office. Not after everything. She'd only despise him more for it.

So he waited in the lobby like some lovesick fool, hoping to manufacture a chance encounter. She'd see through the ruse immediately, but that hardly mattered anymore.

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "Since when did I become this cautious?" He shook his head. "Worth it, if I get to see her face again."

Upstairs, Evelyn had spent the afternoon extinguishing corporate fires. Raphael Dubois, the subsidiary's CEO and her former classmate, walked beside her as they descended in the private elevator.

"Your timing was impeccable as always," Raphael remarked with genuine admiration. "That acquisition would have collapsed without your intervention."

Evelyn's lips curved into a confident smile. The stilettos clicking against marble accentuated her commanding presence. "Only because I have the best team in Europe backing me up."

As they reached the ground floor, excited whispers reached them. "Who is that gorgeous man waiting by the lounge? I've never seen anyone so striking!" "I tried getting his number earlier - completely shut me down!"

Evelyn's steps faltered when her gaze landed on the familiar figure rising from the plush armchair. Nathan's dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

In three strides, he was before them. Evelyn's nails dug into her palms as she fought to maintain her composure.

This infuriating man was like a ghost she couldn't escape. She remained silent as Nathan's assessing gaze flicked to Raphael before returning to her, softening instantly.

"Why did you leave New York so suddenly?" The question came out rougher than intended.

Evelyn's spine straightened. Her eyebrow arched in challenge. "Since when do I need your permission to travel?"